Connacht have pulled off a coup by snapping up under-20 Baby Blacks skipper Jake Heenan on a three-year contract.

The openside flanker, 20, skippered New Zealand to runners-up spot in last year’s Under-20 World Cup.

The former Whangarei Boys’ High School captain went on to sign for Auckland and was a member of the Blues’ development programme.

But he has decided to try out life in Northern Hemisphere rugby and is an interesting addition to new Connacht head coach Pat Lam’s squad.

“I came across Jake when he was 17,” said Lam. “He played for the Blues’ under-18 team when they won the national competition and, even then, I could see what a natural leader and genuine team player he was.

“Jake is highly regarded back in New Zealand and it is a real coup for Connacht to catch him.”